How long have you owned that old car anyway?...

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

I am intriqued by some of you and the time you have owned your old cars. Many of us have had fabulous old cars in our past but for whatever reason had to sell or otherwise part with. (In my case 23 years ago with my first 54 Buick it was to buy my new bride a washing machine, honestly). So I think a lot of us would love to hear how long you've owned your cars and maybe a short story about them. I've only had my current Roadmasters for about 4 years so that certainly won't be hard to top. But I figure if strength is in numbers then 5 cars times 4 years = 20. Does that count?

[The Old Guy]

I bought my 1940 Super convert in 1972 just to have something to drive while I did a frame off of my 1932 model 97. I had 6 children and a hefty mortgage, so in 1984 after pulling a 1935 17' trailer to California with the 32, I sold it. The 40 is still in use and I have driven it over 100,000 miles,and it is still going strong. It was just invited to the "Eyes on Classic Design" meet at the Edsel Ford estate in June. I was planning on taking it to Batavia for the BCA National to get a "driven award" ,but I was informed that because I had a 1941 exhaust manifold on it , it would have to go into the "modified" class. That being the case, I am bringing a "modified". My 1937 Special coupe has a 455 Buick engine ,a TH-400 trans and all the toys! ( AC, power windows,steering and brakes, remote door switches,AM-FM cassette radio, a built in 12 volt cooler)

It is named " Coup De Grape" which is a play on words, as the Coup De Gras is the killing stroke, and if I do another Buick ,Mama will surely do me in!

[nearchoclatetown]

Mr Earl, good question. I've owned my '52 Beetle since '77, it was last driven in '66. It was the first split I ever saw and I will never sell it. I hope to have new paint on it later this summer and be able to drive it again. I've had the '24 Dodge Bros. about 3 years, the '68 Electra about 2.

[Guest antiquepa]

we bought our 1969 cutlass s conv;t in 1985 as a family car with 3 kids. after the kids grew and left, we started to restore the car in 91. i only wanted a paint job, but $10.000.00 later. replaced about everything, it one nice ride and we enjoy car crusis and shows. so its been in the family for 20 years and its just part of us, we love the car and will never part. also have a 1928 chrysler model 52, took 5 years to restore, had about 10 years, then i got smart and bought a 1931 delux

roaster that has been in the family for about 5 years. the only problem we have now is which one to drive, since we love all 3. antiquepa

[Guest rbl2]

Been lurking here for awhile, I guess it's time I said something.

May 29, 1970 I bought a '46 Plymouth Business coupe. I still had it October of '03 when I left for Iraq. I paid some one to store it for me in my absence. I continued to pay him the entire 15 months I was gone. I even talked to him by phone from Baghdad several times.

I came home Dec '04. Neither he nor my car can be located.

My kids earliest memories involve that car. I want it back.

Just before I returned I also bought a '26 Chevy Roadster. But thats only about 7 months so I don't have bragging rights there.

[Guest Skyking]

I bought my Metropolitan in 1985, sold it in 1990, and bought it back in 2002.........I've owned the Invicta since 1989.

[Dave@Moon]

1960 LeSabre--10 years, 1970 TR6--14 years.

[29 Chandler]

1968 Mustang 20 years my first car, will never sell.

1929 Chandler 5 years now, still have yet to start the motor, but there is hope.

[palbuick]

I purchased my 1940 Century Convt, 66C, about two weeks after I got married, in 1959, yep 1959. I had the car stored in my mothers garage for a couple years. No teling my new wife about the car.

Well I still have the same car and the same wife, 46 years later. I have had a lot of cars since then but still have my 40. I have managed to collect about 95 0/0 of NOS parts for the car, just need the ambition to finish.

Jim Schilf

palbuick

[Guest imported_MrEarl]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Been lurking here for awhile, I guess it's time I said something.

May 29, 1970 I bought a '46 Plymouth Business coupe. I still had it October of '03 when I left for Iraq. I paid some one to store it for me in my absence. I continued to pay him the entire 15 months I was gone. I even talked to him by phone from Baghdad several times.

I came home Dec '04. Neither he nor my car can be located.

My kids earliest memories involve that car. I want it back.

Just before I returned I also bought a '26 Chevy Roadster. But thats only about 7 months so I don't have bragging rights there. </div></div>

rbl2

What a horrible thing. Why don't you post this in the forum under it's own heading. Perhaps someone has seen the car. I certainly hope you find your car and the dirty rotten bastard that took it and run over his ass with it. Sorry about the language moderators but that makes me madder than hell!!

[Guest my3buicks]

1967 Buick Special Deluxe Sport Coupe, Grandfather bought new, I bought it as my first car from him in 1978 - it seemed like he had it forever, but he only owned it a small portion of it's life now.

[Guest rbl2]

The local law enforcement hasn't been much help either.

He can run, but he can't hide. I'll find him eventually.

Not sure about my car though. 15 1/2 months is plenty of time to strip the car and part it out on ebay or simply sell it as scrap metal.

[Shop Rat]

Can the state police in your area do any kind of nationwide search by VIN number and see if anything turns up?

He is out there somewhere. There has to be a way to find him. You may never get the car back but he should not get away with this.

A friend of mine loaned a horse to a guy that rode in the Olympics years ago. When my friend wanted his horse back the guy claimed that it had to be put down due to colic. Several years later the horse turned up alive. The "friend" had sold it. Turns out the horse had been bred as a racehorse and it's upper lip was tattooed and someone picked it's lip up and noticed the tattoo and started tracing it back. By the time the horse was found George did not make the new owners give it up. But he made the other guy pay him for it.

[Guest]

My daily driver will be 75 years old next tuesday. My grandfather bought it new and drove it 99,000 miles in 29 years. I have put an additional 380,000 miles on it in 46 years. Major repairs have been 2 paint jobs, one engine overhaul and three rear ends. The transmission has never been opened except to change the oil every couple of years.

[6219_Rules]

Tinindian, I find your post a real inspiration. Do you have any pictures of your Pontiac?

Its wonderful! Thank you for sharing it.

I've owned my 1977 Eldorado (an antique by definition but hardly a classic...or a Classic ala' PFH).

[stock_steve]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've owned my '52 Beetle since '77, it was last driven in '66. It was the first split I ever saw and I will never sell it.</div></div>

Our '50 Beetle was also the first split I ever saw, and I hope we can keep it forever as well. We acquired it from Tom Shoemaker (who was the first VVWCA CT Chapter Rep) back about 1987 or so. We've been driving it around on various weekend occasions (it's nowhere near a show car) for about the past 10 years or so, though it's currently having some ignition problems that I will have to solve.

Diane bought her '73 Super Beetle Convertible in college, about 1979 or so, and has been using it as her summertime daily driver ever since--she says that if she could only keep one car, that would be it. I just posted a picture of it over at the "Collectible Automobile Photo Post" area, from it's appearance in our town's annual Memorial Day Parade--I'll try to attach it to this post also.

What a crummy story, Mr. rbl2--I hope your car can be recovered.

[Dynaflash8]

PalBuick, your post makes me wonder if your mother lived in Baltimore. I met a guy about my age at an auction sellout of a junkyard in Baltimore many years ago who had a 1940 66C stored in his mother's garage at the time. I never saw or heard tell of him again; although some of the local Buick guys did seem to know who he was. By the way, who's go the longest marriage, you or me? Our Anniversary is April 12, 1959 and it's been a pretty good 46 years here too!

[Dynaflash8]

Like George Washington, I cannot tell a lie (depending on who is the present company, haha). I would like to say that my blue '39 Buick sidemounted sedan had been mine since January 29, 1955, but I gotta "say it ain't so, Joe." I let that one get away July 31, 1955 in the chase for a girl in h.s. (she got away a few months later). So I got another one, the May-June, 2004 ANTIQUE AUTOMOBIEL MAGAZINE 1939 Buick cover car. Judy and I have owned her (Suzybelle) since my birthday, October 19, 1963. The '39 Buick convertible sedan (Princess), I found in Washington, DC in 1965 and couldn't afford the $1,000 price. Three owners later, in Baltimore, I bought the car for $1700 and that was 1970. Restored it to a Junior, sold it to build a house in 1985, and bought it back in 2000 from the same guy. They come and they go, but the blue sidemounter will still be here when I go.....Suzybelle is a member of our family and has her own heated and air conditioned garage. How many more of you are crazy enough to name your cars? <said with a wide grin>.

By the way, our other cars are a 1935 Buick Special sedan (Miss Corrie); a 1956 Buick Special 2-dr hardtop (JudyBad) and a 1971 Buick Riviera (Big Red). The 76 Lincoln is named (ForSale...haha)

[nearchoclatetown]

Steve, you left out the part about the Pinto. I knew you had the convertible '54, but didn't realise you had a '50 also.

[Guffin]

I bought our Hupmobile 1929 Century 8 in 1960 from the first owner. It had 44000 km on the odometer (ca 27500 miles). I paid 1600 SKR (ca $200) for it without tires. The original cost in Sweden was 13500 SKR and the price, as new, in the USA was $2050 with 6 wire wheels, a rather expensive car. When I bought it it had been sitting in the garage since the beginning of WW2, in 1939. When I towed avay the car from the first owner he cried.

I used it as a daily driver for some years. Due to the cost of gas I bought a Fiat 600 to use as a daily driver but on vacations and longer trips we always used the Hupmobile. The Fiat was too small for the whole family. The Hupp has served us well and only once we had to tow it home when a rod bearing gave up due to a stuck old oil filter and driving too fast uphill (it now has a modern full flow filter and I don´t drive it over 60 miles/h).

The longest trip we made was to England and Scotland a few years ago. We have also been touring in Poland, Tjeckien, Germany and Norway. Our children loved to go in the Hupp and our oldest daughter, who got sic in more modern cars, newer got sick in the Hupp. The Hupp is a family member and I hope I newer have to sell it.

The Hupp got new paint in 1961, an engine and brake overhaul in 1972 and other small improvements during the years. It is still in good shape but the original interior is a little worn but will not be replaced. Pictures of the Hupp can be seen on ?Members Gallery?, page 14 (I think).

Jan

[hwellens]

Purchased my 1930 Chrysler on August 8, 1964. Still have it.

[Dynaflash8]

Harry, you're still a man of few words. Haven't seen you in years. How've been? Retired yet? Earl Beauchamp

[Guest carlnut50]

I know this may not seem like much to most of you but I have a 1974 Dodge pickup I bought in 1981.It is a short wheelbase stepside bed 318 engine 3 speed manual transmission.It was my daily driver until about 1998.I use it now for hauling my firewood,carry off the trash,going to hit&miss engine shows etc.It's got 300,000 miles on it but a fresh engine.I wouldn't part with it now no matter what.I've only had my A model for 2 years.What a fun car!

[Guest rbl2]

I named my 46 Plymouth coupe "ol paint". During the initial restoration we tried taking it down to bare metal. Underneath 3 coats of paint was what I believe was the original primer, a dull red thick coat of paint. It resembled the paint they used to use on I beams and what not in construction years ago.

After 3 of us spent 40 hours each (120 man hours) trying every trick we knew we finally gave up.

The name, like the paint, stuck.

Haven't named my 26 Chevy yet. Active word being yet.

[Guest Dave Mills]

1928 Plymouth - Purchased in 1987 from my former boss's estate.

1951 Plymouth - Given to me by my Grandfather in 1965

1966 Plymouth Sport Fury Convertible - Purchased in 1991 Dropped off in my driveway by an owner that no longer wanted it.

1975 Plymouth Duster - Purchased new in April of 1975 First brand new car my wife and I bought together.

1999 Plymouth Prowler - Purchased new in July 1998 My mid-life crisis purchase.

[palbuick]

dynaflash

You beat me by a couple months Sept.26 1959.

The 40 century has never been owned by anyone other than a Illinois owners

[Guest maxihc]

I have owned my 1906 Maxwell for 34 years and have driven it for 31 of those years. Leroy Francies

[HarryJ]

I've owned my 1929 Model "A" since 1969; as a matter of fact it is the very first car of any kind I owned. It was my daily driver for many yaers.

[stock_steve]

Hi Doug--oh yeah...the Pinto--ha ha. I know that Tom brought that '50 to at least one of the old Holbert's meets back in the '80s, so perhaps you might've seen it there. It's the "classic" '50 color too--Pastel Green (it's one of the four Pastel Green '50s--though at this point I can't remember exactly whicn one--in this image from the Norwalk, CT meet a few years back--see Attachment).

[stock_steve]

And here it is again at Norwalk, a couple of years later (I think this shot's from 2002). That's Humberto Lapa's freshly restored '50 Sunroof right next to it. Our car looks good in this picture, but it's really rather rough (but a really decent driver).

[Peter Gariepy]

I have a 1948 Chrysler New Yorker Club Coupe I bought in Jan 1977 (my 16th birthday). Drove the wheels off it all through high school. Its now almost done accept for 2 minor issues... <span style="font-weight: bold">time and money</span>. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Peter

[Twitch]

Ordered my 1973 Z-28 new from the factory

1965 Nova has been in another family branch since new

Got my 1996 Eldo in 1998

1950 Packard was bought in 2004

[nearchoclatetown]

Peter, it looks like you drove the tail lights off it, too. I wonder why the car that means the most to us and we keep the longest gets the least attention. I haven't figured out where my split will go when I no longer need it, all I know is it won't be in my lifetime.

[Guest rbl2]

Here's ol paint in better days

Anyhow, that's a my missing Plymouth. It didn't look that good when I left for Iraq. I had started to re-restore it and had the front end off when I left.

The last time I saw it was Sept. '03. The last time I talked to the man who "stored" it for me was Nov. '04, a few weeks before I was hurt and sent home. He told me he had moved it and a few other cars to a better location where he felt they were safer.

My son talked to him about a week after I was wheels down. I immediately called him but no one there knew who or what I was talking about.

The man has not been seen or heard of since. That would have been the end of Dec. '04.

[hwellens]

Earl, Still driving the Mopars; 1930 Chrysler sedan, 1936 Dodge RS Coupe, 1938 Dodge Conv Cpe, 1951 Dodge Panel and one Model T. I am semiretired now. How are you doing. I know you have had that Buick a long time (since the 60s?).

Harry

[Guest Randy Berger]

I bought my 56 400 in 1972 for $100.00. I worked on the mechanics occasionally during the next 20 years and took it out once in a while just to cruise the neighborhood. The tranny let go in 1992 and my wife said "That's it - that thing has been hogging up the garage for 20 years - either fix it or get rid of it! I replied "I've just been waiting for you to tell me what to do dear". I had the trans rebuilt, body and paint done, had it professionally reupholstered, spent a lot on chrome and have been driving it ever since Sure glad she gave me that ultimatum.

Oh yeah, it's worth a little more now than what I paid for it originally.

YFAM, Randy Berger

[ksparks]

i have along with my father who is close to 80 have owned quite a few and sold them over the years. 34 Packard club,41 Packard, 20 HCS, 18 Stutz,26 Dodge, 22,23 T, 1919 Indian, 23 Templar, 24 Cad, 23 Cad, 28 JD,48 HD,29 packard roadster body, 24 Stude special six, 22 auburn,32 and 33 LaSalle but the nicest surprise of all came recently when an early 20 auburn complete project i found/owned in 1970 found me again after 20 to 30 years of running ads looking for the same make. my dad sold it while i was in college in 1974 and i was disappointed. i ran ads in hemmings over the years, then the internet in recent years looking to find a same era Auburn. But i always asked about if anyone knew about a 22 Auburn sold to a gentlemen in Canada who may have owned a museum. Last year had an email from a great guy who stated he had one. we later determined it was the same car. then i am going to stretch a little and say 35 years minus the 30 missing years

keith

[41Merc]

Hi, I'm new, the Merc isn't. My dad bought it new in March 41 and kept it. It's been through 4 engines (2 flatheads and 2 Cad 472's), is on its 5th, a 67 Buick 340-4 and has 265 thousand on its clock.

Really good shape, not perfect, but garage-kept.

No, I will *never* show it. I *will* drive it.

...uh, if I get that fuel pump and new lines on it today, I will...

No, I'll never chop or lower it either.

[Guest sixpack2639]

I had a '55 second series 3100 Chevy pickup project for about 8 years before I sold it about 5 years ago. The '60 Karmann Kabriolet is a project I picked up about 12 years ago to restore for my oldest daughter...still working on it. My '51 Buick I bought about a year ago. It wasn't quite what I was looking for at the time but it was love at first sight. There's just something about that grill. WOW. The '65 Stang is my wifes baby. We bought it about 9 months ago. The '81 Olds I just bought last month and drove it home from PA. It is the preverbial old lady car(she was 90+ years young)with 35,000 original miles, never driven in the winter, always garaged, and clean as if it just rolled off the showroom floor. It had been PA inspected in August 2004 and when I picked it up last month there was only 32 miles on it since it was inspected! Carl

[Guest imported_Dwight V.]

When I was a poor kid in high school I wanted a sports car, so in 1983 I bought a red 1970 Fiat spider convertible for $300. In spite of my wonderful aspirations, it was too far gone to fix. In 1985 I bought a second, nearly identical car that wasn't rusted to bits and restored it, just selling it last year. I might have kept it forever but I'm space challenged, and wanted to experience some other automotive flavors. Off it went to be replaced by the Mini.

The truck I've had for about 4 years now. I don't see it going anywhere until I can no longer press in the clutch pedal, and then I'll see about sticking an automatic in it.